Search

The study investigated the perceived role of digital theological library and term paper counselling in undergraduate religious education students' academic success in the federal universities in southeast Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. A structured questionnaire developed by the researchers was used for data collection. 166 undergraduate religious education students were chosen as respondents in this research. The results showed that items on the perceived role of digital theological library and term paper counselling were all accepted by the students as means of achieving academic success. There was a significant difference in the perceived role of the digital theological library in achieving academic success among religious education students by the university. There was a significant difference in the perceived role of term paper counselling in achieving academic success among religious education students based on university. There was also a significant difference in the perceived role of university librarians in achieving academic success among religious education students based on university. The researchers noted that these findings have implications for university librarians across the universities and it was recommended that the use of digital theological libraries for academic purposes and term paper counselling should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preservation of paper-based artifacts is an essential issue for collection management in academic libraries. In recent years, the library science profession has often favored reformatting through microfilm or digitization, assuming too quickly that information matters, whereas an artifact's medium does not. However, much recent humanities scholarship has demonstrated the significance of physical artifacts per se. In fact, it is often the most cutting-edge scholarship on race, gender, and history that requires the physical artifact itself for research. Although librarians obviously cannot save every physical artifact, any decision on which artifacts to preserve, deaccession, or reformat (and, for that matter, on how to reformat) requires an understanding of the importance of the original physical format. Since texts acquire meaning through an intricate interplay between physical form and abstract information, the reduction of texts to abstract information alone evinces a misunderstanding of the artifacts in our care and an inadequate theory on which to base preservation decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The one-minute paper (OMP) is an easy-to-implement classroom assessment tool that is particularly well-suited to the familiar one-shot library instruction session. This article explores the ways that the one-minute paper can benefit academic librarians. Examples from the literature on teaching & learning and the author's own experience are used to illustrate potential benefits, including individualized outreach to students and program planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the proliferation of information available online and through academic libraries, students are increasingly reading from the screen. Academic documents can be long and complex, requiring sustained concentration to read deeply. This paper reviews current literature on the advantages and disadvantages of electronic and paper media for academic reading. Theoretical and empirical research into screen reading in academic institutions falls broadly into the following categories; reading and comprehension theory, the effect of a document’s platform, design and tools on reading, and screen versus paper research studies. These categories inform and provide the structure for this review. This paper concludes by considering how academic librarians can manage their collections and deliver library services in response to recent screen reading research. This overview of the literature on reading theory, the platforms and tools integral to reading electronic documents, and screen versus paper reading research, will enable academic librarians to make more informed collection management and library service decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Typically, museums are seen as the primary venue for exhibitions. However, an interest in library exhibitions has been growing as indicated by increased literature in the library field, albeit with a large focus on academic libraries. On a broader scale, library exhibitions continue to be under-researched as indicated by the continuing lack of library exhibition evaluation standards, library exhibition reviews, and exhibition-related professional training for librarians. In this 2021 study, interviews were conducted at eight Washington, DC-based art museum libraries: The National Gallery of Art, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, The American Art and Portrait Gallery, The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, The National Museum of African Art, The Phillips Collection, and the George Washington University Textile Museum. This paper is an examination of the current state of exhibitions in art museum libraries and aims to establish a set of best practices to help foster the production of art museum library exhibitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, first presented at the 2023 LACUNY Institute, the author discusses definitions of imposter syndrome and how imposter syndrome fits within the diversity model. The diversity model, as used in this paper, emerges from an oversimplified framing of racial inequity as a problem that is solved by simply hiring diverse bodies to appear inclusive. In conjunction with the proliferation of imposter syndrome in post-secondary institutions, the ongoing phenomenon of imposter syndrome among librarians and academics reveals an underlying systemic problem rather than individual shortcomings. Workplace discomfort in postsecondary institutions is too easily brushed off as imposter syndrome, without any critical self-reflection on the underlying causes that contribute to such high rates of individuals experiencing the syndrome. While the pathological "diagnosis" of imposter syndrome is unproductive in combating the underlying systemic problems that contribute to such experiences, there are two distinct uses of imposter syndrome in our lexicon: imposter-syndrome-as-pathology and the affective experience of imposter syndrome. In critiquing imposter-syndrome-as-pathology, this paper highlights how the diversity model pushes racialized information professionals to experience imposter syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a snapshot of United States academic libraries in 2020 and explores longitudinal trends in staffing and expenditures for 1996 to 2020. The authors merged and analyzed academic library data from the National Center for Education Statistics from over 4,000 postsecondary institutions. Characteristics are explored by region and maps are provided. Total inflation-adjusted library expenditures have increased steadily for all regions from 1996 to 2020, including in the two major expenditure categories of staffing and collections. In the Northeast and West, averages are markedly higher in staffing and total expenditures than the other two regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small branch of a large academic library is in the process of relocating from one area of campus to another. Although the new space is drastically smaller than what they currently have, the librarian wishes to build upon the small maker area that was recently created for the relaxation and enjoyment of patrons. With the SCAFFOLD makerspace design framework, this new area will be created using the latest research in making and learning, keeping inclusivity at the forefront of all activities. This paper describes the current maker area, what the plans are for the new space, and how that space will be designed using this new SCAFFOLD method. It is hoped that this project can be replicated by any academic librarian wishing to add a small yet useful makerspace while staying within their budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely access to guideline-recommended cancer treatment is known to be an indicator of the quality and accessibility of a cancer care system. Yet people who are socially disadvantaged experience inequities in access to cancer treatment that have significant impacts on cancer outcomes and quality of life. Among people experiencing the intersecting impacts of poor access to the social determinants of health and personal identities typically marginalized from society ('social disadvantage'), there are significant barriers to accessing cancer, many of which compound one another, making cancer treatment extremely difficult to access. Although some research has focused on barriers to accessing cancer treatment among people who are socially disadvantaged, it is not entirely clear what, if anything, is being done to mitigate these barriers and improve access to care. Increasingly, there is a need to design cancer treatment services and models of care that are flexible, tailored to meet the needs of patients, and innovative in reaching out to socially disadvantaged groups. In this paper, we report the protocol for a planned scoping review which aims to answer the following question: What services, models of care, or interventions have been developed to improve access to or receipt of cancer treatment for adults who are socially disadvantaged? Based on the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley, this scoping review is planned in six iterative stages. A comprehensive search strategy will be developed by an academic librarian. OVID Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL (using EBSCOhost) and Scopus will be searched for peer-reviewed published literature; advanced searches in Google will be done to identify relevant online grey literature reports. Descriptive and thematic analysis methods will be used to analyze extracted data. Findings will provide a better understanding of the range and nature of strategies developed to mitigate barriers to accessing cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates that a library instruction observation instrument can effectively foster critical self-reflection among academic library faculty and staff on their teaching practices. The paper outlines the instrument's design, which gathers low inference observations on instructors' use of questioning as a pedagogical strategy based on recommendations from the LIS and education literature. To test and refine the instrument's design, the instructors' utilised the instrument to collect data from classes taught by five participating instructors, who, during postobservation interviews, engaged in thoughtful reflections on their class planning, student participation, and teaching philosophy. They also provided valuable critiques of the usefulness of the instrument. Through analysing the observee reflections and the data from the observation instrument, this study aims to provide academic libraries with a method to incorporate an observation instrument in a peer observation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Navigating confusing peer-review structures in publishing can be daunting for librarians at all stages of their careers. In this paper, the authors will differentiate peer-review models and reflect on their experiences with these formats in the context of the September 2022 special issue of College & Research Libraries. Additional discussion will include the hidden curriculum of professional norms in academia; areas for growth in peer review related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and peer review as an individual and collective form of professional development that shapes how we engage with scholarship in LIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper details the library special collections material held at the library of Highland Theological College, University of the Highlands and Islands. Our three main special collections are the primary focus of this article: the William Temple Collection, the Rutherford House Collection, and the Fort Augustus Collection. We detail here the story behind these collections entering our custody and proceed to highlight a selection of monographs of provenance and personal interest. This paper constitutes original research into the collections, building upon a foundation laid by the late college librarian, Mr. Martin Cameron (1955-2019), who curated the collections over some twenty years. We also discuss our ongoing work in formulating our new Historical Texts Collection, comprising the library's oldest books of academic interest, and a subcollection of liturgical music, isolated from the Fort Augustus Collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out to investigate research visibility of academic librarians in Imo State: factors, strategies, and challenges. The study was guided by 5 research objectives. The researchers adopted descriptive research survey. The population of the study comprised of 155 academic librarians in 9 institutions of higher learning in Imo State. Both online and face to face questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Out of 155 copies of questionnaire distributed in both soft and hardcopies, 133 responses were received. The outcome of the study showed that the number of peer reviewed publications, citation for journal publications, journal impact factors, frequency of citation, increased visibility via open access, and journal location are the factors considered by the librarians in choosing where to publish their papers as all the items showed positive means above the criterion mean of 2.50. Again, researchgate, academia, LinkedIn, Mendeley, blog, tweeter and Google scholar are the academic social networking platforms used by the librarians in sharing academic publications. Furthermore, the opportunity for feedback, collaboration, research reputation, job opportunities, promotion and career advancement are the benefits of research visibility to librarians. In the same vein, paper presentation at conferences, collaboration with other authors, public lectures, publishing on widely read journals, maintaining online identity and tracking scholarly impact metrics are the strategies for enhancing research visibility of the librarians. Finally, lack of computer literacy, cost implications of paper publications, lack of awareness of social networking platforms, non-accessibility to other people's work, inability to track impact metrics, inability to manage online identity as well as lack of registered institutional e-mail were seen as challenges facing research visibility of the librarians. The study concludes that every librarian should strive to be visible, and the researchers recommended that all librarians should identify with all the social networking platforms and publish in widely read journals to track their online identity metrics for easy visibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The aim of the study is to investigate the application of online platforms by professional librarians for research visibility in Nigeria universities. Design/methodology/approach - The study adopted online survey method. Questionnaire was designed to collect data from respondents using Google form. Data was collected from 367 academic librarians both practicing and lecturing in 28 universities in Nigeria. Findings - The study revealed that majority of the academic librarians have created profile on Google Scholar and also joined ResearchGate network. While, the platforms with the least profiles are Scopus and ORCID. Majority of the academic librarians agree that creating profile in the online platforms raises the profile of the author's institution, brings recognition to the author, influences author's institution ranking, increases readership of the paper (s), make articles reach greater audience, and attracts possible research funding. It also emerged that no institutional e-mail, no google e-mail, some academics not interested, don't know how to create profile on these platforms, no motivation from the institution, too busy to create my profile, and network challenges are some of the drawbacks associated with creating profile in the online platforms. The qualitative analysis revealed that publishing in open access, creating google scholar profile, and joining researchgate network, and publishing in journals that are indexed and abstracted were the popular ways to increase the visibility of one's paper. Research implications - This study will inform and educate scholars in the universities to see the need to register their presence on the web through creating profiles and linking their publications in these platforms. These platforms will no doubt enhance the academic evaluation and give additional weight to publications that are accessible globally. Originality/value - The study reported the extent academic librarians in Nigeria have created profiles on the research visibility platforms such as Google scholar, SCOPUS, researchgate, and ORCID. The findings will inform policy makers, administrators and academic staff to understand how the universities are performing in terms of scholarly activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the techniques for designing and managing the bibliographical database by using the Windows-based ISIS (WINISIS) library software package and specified the brief description of steps taken to create a database of all bibliographic materials as well as features of WINSIS are taken into consideration. The purpose of the paper is to be acquainted college librarians with the distinctive features of the Windows-based ISIS because Microsoft Windows is described as a graphical user environment, which gives the user more control over the work as well as enables the user to use more of the power of the computer. The author has applied practical methods to put forth the techniques for designing and managing the bibliographical database of Doctoral Theses by using WINISIS software package. The author has attempted to find out various aspects to describe the features of the various modules of Windows-based ISIS (WINSIS) library software which would be valuable for those college librarians who faced the crunch of budget and are distressed to manage databases, especially those colleges are situated in rural and tribal areas of India. This paper is originally based on the dissertation made by the author in Degree of Master of Philosophy which is recognized and essential in the research purview of higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper expounds the application and perceived impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic libraries in Nigeria. Libraries especially in developing countries may become moribund in the 21 century unless they begin to harness new, smart and intelligent technologies for improved operations and service delivery. This research adopted a literature-based approach to x-ray the applications and perceived impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic libraries in Nigeria. Through a systematic analysis and review of literature, the study brought to limelight the current state of AI integration in academic libraries in Nigeria and its possible impact on library services, collections, users, professionals and general library operations and services. The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic libraries has the potential to revolutionize library operations and services. Some of the identifies AI tools include: Natural Language Recognition, Robotics, Big Data, Data Mining, Chatbot, Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition and Expert system. Findings from the study revealed that the application of AI in academic libraries have the potentials to increases productivity, improved customer satisfaction through personalization, easy availability and accessibility of information, easy collaboration and knowledge sharing, virtual assistance and chatbots, and ultimately increase overall operational effectiveness. This paper also explored some of the challenges associated with the application of AI technologies in academic libraries in Nigeria such as poor ICT skills and technical expertise, high initial costs of implementation, phobia for job displacement, epileptic power supply, poor maintenance culture, resistance to change, poor network connectivity, privacy and ethical implications, etc. To maximize the potential benefits of AI applications in academic libraries in Nigeria, it is crucial for these libraries to implement appropriate planning, guidelines and regulations on AI use as well as training and retraining of academic librarians to acquire the required ICT skills, knowledge and competence in order to adapt in the present digital and changing library environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information technology has influenced scholarly communication and how higher education institutions assess research impact. This has extended the role that the academic library plays in supporting researchers in the research life cycle. These global trends have impacted academic libraries in Africa too, albeit to different extents. This paper reports from the literature and empirical findings of a single aspect of a wider study on research impact assessment that enquired into best practices for assessing research impact in higher education institutions in Africa and the evolving role of academic libraries in support of research impact assessment. The paper draws from a qualitative aspect of the wider mixed-methods study informed by research impact theory, and specifically findings from semistructured interviews with relevant stakeholders such as academic librarians, university research office personnel, and African research council managers. The paper concludes that librarians traditionally have been well placed to play a pivotal role in research impact assessment due to their professional competencies. Academic libraries will continue to evolve and in doing so play a significant role in the research life cycle of higher education knowledge systems. African academic libraries need to contextualize research impact assessment such that it speaks to the research needs of African contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes how librarians and archivists at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt, the University) reenvisioned their teaching with primary sources by applying findings from the 2021 Ithaka S+R study, “Teaching with Primary Sources: Looking at the Support Needs of Instructors,” to inform and enhance instructional initiatives. Considering Pitt’s library renovation (2017–24), the emergence of digital pedagogy at the University in the wake of COVID-19 health- and safety-related measures, and the call for dialogue around social justice issues, the Ithaka study provided grounding evidence. Inspired by these catalysts, librarians and archivists overhauled their teaching with primary sources through strategic collaborations that prioritized inquiry-based learning for students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graphic edition of Snyder's On Tyranny (2021) states "truth dies in four modes," which is a contemporary synthesis connected to Klemperer's Language of the Third Reich (1957). The researchers connected these four modes to information literacy (IL) instruction--but would others? The researchers surveyed academic librarians engaged in IL instruction on whether they felt they addressed any of the modes in their work. The researchers also asked whether they believe the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education works to circumvent any of the four modes. Nearly 150 librarians responded and, while most respondents were unfamiliar with the two texts referenced and their thoughts were mixed, many saw their work and the Framework as antagonistically related to Mode 1 (Open Hostility to Verifiable Reality). This paper discusses survey results and their implications for better understanding of how academic librarians engaged in IL instruction view their work in a socio-political context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

his paper proposes teaching strategies and techniques for library instruction in academic libraries to achieve the intended goals. The recommendations are based on insights from previous research IN library instruction with the intention to identify possible strategies and techniques for different user groups. This study applied a systematic literature review method, using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol to examine the use of teaching strategies and techniques in library instruction programs. The Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases were searched for relevant literature using specific keywords. Applying the inclusion criteria, a total of 27 articles out of the 1380 documents extracted, were deemed relevant to the study. The results show that library instruction is usually conducted in the form of individual sessions. Teaching strategies used by librarians include flipped classroom, faux flip, class room teaching, research clinic, consultation, asynchronous learning, and online synchronous learning, among others. These teaching strategies improved engagement and relationships between students and librarians, while impacting critical thinking, confidence and self-directed learning. It is concluded that librarians should consider adopting and combining teaching strategies based on individual needs and use technology to improve teaching effectiveness and increase student learning. This study shows that most studies on library instruction have only partially addressed instructional strategies. A critical review of the literature revealed that a strategic shift in the management of library instruction is necessary to achieve the intended outcomes. In this study, three teaching strategies for library education are proposed, namely Embracing for freshman, Encouraging for sophomore, and Leveraging for postgraduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores legal considerations for how libraries in Canada can lend digital copies of books. It is an adaptation of A Whitepaper on Controlled Digital Lending of Library Books by David R. Hansen and Kyle K. Courtney, and draws heavily on this source in its content, with the permission of the authors. Our paper considers the legal and policy rationales for the process--"controlled digital lending"--in Canada, as well as a variety of risk factors and practical considerations that can guide libraries seeking to implement such lending, with the intention of helping Canadian libraries to explore controlled digital lending in our own Canadian legal and policy context. Our goal is to help libraries and their lawyers become better informed about controlled digital lending as an approach, offer the basis of the legal rationale for its use in Canada, and suggest situations in which this rationale might be strongest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the history of Serbian culture, the period between the two world wars was marked by the increasingly widespread engagement of women as writers, artists, creators of the social environment, but also as clerks in the cultural institutions. Libraries in Belgrade - the National, the University, and the Public - were among the first to open the door for female employees. In a relatively short time, they paved the way to the gender-balanced structure within the library profession. This paper analyzes the professional contribution of Ljubica Marković (1895-1947), a professor of Yugoslav literature and librarian at the University Library in Belgrade. Ljubica Marković was among the first university-educated women employed in the libraries of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. For the whole 20 years, she was managing the complete processing of Yugoslav and other Slavic books in the University Library. She was one of the founders and a board member of the Yugoslav Library Association (1931-1939). Her contribution to the completion and publication of the first Bibliography of Books by Female Writers Printed in Vojvodina, Serbia, Southern Serbia, and Montenegro by the End of 1935 was significant. She was an active member of the Association of University-Educated Women, particularly interested in the development of the feminist movement in our country. Ljubica Marković was certainly a person whose work has connected the developmental paths of librariаnship and feminism in our region. The bibliography of her works consists of almost 80 units - seven separately printed papers, two edited books, and 70 articles published in periodicals, dealing primarily with women's literary work, but also with literature in general, librarianship, and the development of feminism. Like most of the professionals who were founding the Serbian librarianship throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Ljubica Marković as well did not get the deserved place among the builders. Moreover, her contribution to the development of the library profession has never been researched or critically considered. Therefore, the authors of this paper endeavored to make at least an initial step in this direction. The main sources for this research were the documents from the Archive of the University Library Svetozar Marković in Belgrade, the published works by Ljubica Marković herself, as well as the memories of her colleagues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated knowledge and perception of librarians towards cloud-based technology in academic libraries in Southwest, Nigeria. The population comprised all professional and non- professional librarians in academic libraries in Southwest, Nigeria. One hundred and thirty-two (132) librarians from Southwest, Nigeria were selected using simple random sampling technique. Four research questions were answered. A structured questionnaire titled "QKPLCTLSN" was used for data collections. The reliability coefficient of the instrument yielded r = 0.76 and r =0.82. The findings of this research revealed that, librarians in academic libraries in Southwest, Nigeria have knowledge about cloud-based technology and they have been using one or more applications in academic libraries but their perception towards the use of cloud-based technology was negative. In view of this, the following recommendations were made; librarians should embark on staff development programmes that would enable them keep pace with the latest technology, library management should encourage librarians to attend seminars, conferences and workshops that would enhance their technological skills, there should be adequate funding from the government and provision of stable power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic librarian hiring processes are designed to allow hiring institutions to learn about candidates through a multiple-round process, but often these processes are not designed with the candidates in mind. This paper uses a qualitative approach to interpret and understand how the attitudes of search committee members shape on-campus interview practices, with a particular focus on how interview practices create barriers to inclusivity. Library employees who recently served on academic librarian hiring committees were recruited to respond to a questionnaire, and a text analysis of responses to open-ended questions was performed to identify themes in academic librarian hiring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While libraries no longer dream of having everything patrons might ever want or need, they can make an effort to get closer to those needs without going over budget. It doesn't have to take loading additional records in the catalog or a team oflibrarians to find and select titles. This paper explores the process Eastern Kentucky University Libraries went through to create and develop a mediated demand driven acquisitions workflow starting with interlibrary loan requests and helped the collection become modern, diversified, and more responsive to current users and curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the establishment, growth, achievements, and future planning of the CALA Canada Chapter. Since its inception in June 2018, the Chapter has experienced significant growth, with the number of members doubling, and the number of life members also doubling. Currently there are a total of thirty members in the Chapter, comprising ten life members, eight overseas members, and seven student members, with the majority residing or working in Ontario. The Chapter has achieved notable milestones, including the organization of successful events such as conferences, workshops, and networking sessions. The Chapter has also contributed to the development of the library profession in Canada, particularly by promoting diversity and inclusivity. Looking forward, the Chapter plans to expand its reach and increase its membership by promoting itself in other regions of the country. The Chapter aims to continue providing valuable resources, programs, and opportunities for its members to enhance their professional development and foster collaboration. Through these efforts, the Canada Chapter aims to play an essential role in advancing the library profession in Canada and promoting its growth and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August 2021, the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), in partnership with the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), received $100,000 in funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program National Forum Grant in the Lifelong Learning project category for Path to Leadership: National Forum to Advance Asian/Pacific Islander American (APIA) Librarianship. Funding from the grant resulted in an online national forum, webinars, and a reunion program. This paper details the planning and implementation of this project. It also includes project evaluation and a proposed curriculum outline to fully develop an APIA leadership program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article showcases the authors' personal journeys of building trust with their teams as BIPOC women leaders in the academic libraries. The article attempts to focus on trust-building with team members through changes either at personal level or at a larger professional context level. This paper elucidates challenges and opportunities that BIPOC leaders are experiencing in their roles in academic library settings as well as how junior and mid-level leaders develop their skill sets to facilitate their effort in trust-building. Literature searches show that study and research in the area of BIPOC leadership in the library context are sparse. The authors strive to contribute to the area, share the experience of building trust in their teams as a leader and invite BIPOC peers to explore possibilities of building trust and advancing their careers in the library leadership path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents findings from a study into the attitudes and practices of pandemic‐era early career researchers (ECRs) in regard to obtaining access to the formally published scholarly literature, which focused on alternative providers, notably ResearchGate and Sci‐Hub. The study is a part of the Harbingers project that has been exploring the work lives and scholarly communication practices of ECRs in pre‐pandemic times and during the pandemic, and utilizes data from two rounds of interviews with around 170 ECRs from the sciences and social sciences in eight countries. Findings show that alternative providers, as represented by ResearchGate and Sci‐Hub, have become established and appear to be gaining ground. However, there are considerable country‐ and discipline‐associated differences. ECRs' country‐specific level of usage of the alternative providers is partly traceable to the adequacy of library provisions, although there are other factors at play in shaping ECRs' attitudes and practices, most notably convenience and time saving, as well as the fact that these platforms have become embedded in the scholarly dashboard. There is a dearth of evidence of the impact of the pandemic on ECRs' ways of obtaining scholarly papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the importance and advantages of various auto-identification technology which are used in academic libraries. Libraries are not safe and secure and facing many problems, like theft, mutilation of library materials and other unethical losses. Auto-identification technologies are useful for libraries to solve those problems. There are various Auto-identification technologies which are used in libraries, like bar codes, smart cards, bio-metric, GPRS, and radio frequency identification (RFID). In this paper, studied some auto-id technology and benefits and challenges of these technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world has witnessed several viral outbreaks in recent years such as the covid-19 pandemic, monkeypox and tomato flu. These have caused a devastating effect on the communities that experience the outbreaks. As a result of these, being informed about diseases has become critical to preventing and curbing the spread of the diseases in communities, especially in academia. Health science libraries and librarians can serve vital informational roles in the fight toward eradicating and preventing future outbreaks. This paper presents the reasons and how health science librarians can achieve those important roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The official opening of Shanghai Library East on September 28, 2022 marked the full implementation of FOLIO platform in the Shanghai Library. The Shanghai Library has developed and implemented applications for library traditional and smart services based on the FOLIO technical framework. This paper mainly introduces the process, difficulties, and solutions during the FOLIO implementation in the Shanghai Library, and provides a summary of the various activities of a Chinese library network (the Yunhan Alliance) established in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education in recent years has witnessed dynamic changes due to the Coronavirus pandemic to the extent that a new term, 'new normal,' originated. In this regard, teaching and learning processes have significantly become dependent on digital technologies to warrant emphasis being laid on digital literacy skills, which many learners lack. In order words, the growing prominence of the Internet and other digital environments as educational tools requires research regarding learners' digital literacy and the role of librarians in supporting learning in the new normal. Digital literacy is the learners' ability to locate, organise, understand, evaluate, and create information using digital technology effectively for everyday tasks. Therefore, the paper's thrust is in the role of librarians as information providers in higher institutions of learning in promoting reading, teaching, research, and learning culture among the citizenry in the digital environment. Also, the paper gives an insight into the digital environment and the various e-learning platforms such as Moodle, Google classroom and so on. It concluded by recommending digital literacy skills inclusion in the school curriculum. Higher institutions should set clear policies that provide the appropriate learning environment to facilitate technology and libraries to support context learning and promote elearning platforms in every discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries are meant to acquire, provide and disseminate information resources to satisfy their patron's information needs. A potent means in which librarians in academic libraries can optimize for their work and services as well as maintain their relevance is through social media. The purpose of this paper is to expose library and information personnel in academic libraries to the effective utilization of social media as an effective tool for re-defining and transforming academic library services in the 21st century. The specific objectives are to identify the types of social media used for effective library service provision in academic libraries, to identify the roles of social media in libraries, to identify the skills needed by librarians to effectively sustain library services through social media, to identify the major challenges associated with social media as a tool for service delivery and to develop strategies for effective adoption and utilization of social media as a tool for library service delivery. The methodology adopted is content analysis. The study was done by related literature review in which related articles on social media in academic libraries were analyzed. Hence, the study reviewed and analyzed the content of 21 articles in which topical issues based on this paper were addressed. The study revealed that social media are powerful tools that can enhance and promote library services. To be able to stay relevant in the socially networked environment and meet the growing needs of its patrons in the 21st century, it has become imperative for academic libraries to explore and adopt social media, which has become a library technology that has the capacity to expand the frontiers of library service delivery as well as to reach the hitherto unreached categories of patrons. The study recommended that academic libraries personnel should efficiently explore and adopt various social media platforms that are suitable for their community so as to grow the visibility and social media presence of their libraries and as well, reach out to every member of their community. Furthermore, adequate budgetary provision for the purchase and maintenance of technologies and facilities to effectively drive the social media implementation for service delivery is imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discussed mentoring, a tool for successful collaboration for Library and Information Science (LIS) educators, in the University of Calabar. For reasons why LIS educators collaborate, respondents revealed, among others, a sense of belonging, motivation, the challenge of management, witch-hunting, and reduction of cost of conducting research, among others. The results from mentoring for collaboration indicated that 19 respondents published 8 articles out of their first 11 published articles through collaboration efforts. Six respondents published six and two respondents had four through collaborative efforts. These represented 70.4%, 22.2%, and 7.41% of the results of mentoring for collaboration. The result show that LIS senior educators mentor young academics for collaboration. The paper identified some challenges of mentoring and the researcher suggested that mentors should be straightforward with the mentees because it is only by trust that people can work together irrespective of their profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the influence of ICT skills on the research output of academic librarians in public universities in the South-West, Nigeria. The study was guided by three objectives and three corresponding research questions. A survey research design method was adopted for the study. The total population for the study was two hundred and twenty (220) librarians in the South-West Nigerian universities. Hence, the total population was adopted. A questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. Two hundred and three (203) copies of the questionnaire were returned and used for the analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive (frequency count, tables, percentages, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential (simple linear regression) statistics. The results of the analysis revealed that academic librarians' level of research output was moderate in quality and quantity. The result also showed that the level of ICT skills among academic librarians in public universities in South-West Nigeria was high. ICT skills have a positive and significant influence on research output among academic librarians in public universities in South-West, Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended that academic librarians should endeavour to publish more textbooks, journal articles, conference proceedings, monographs, book chapters, and technical reports, in high rated journals for more visibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explained the influence of technological readiness on adoption of artificial intelligence technology, using data collected through Google form from 52 librarians in Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design and adapted the Technological Readiness Index 2.0 to design structured questionnaire on level of technological readiness among librarians in Nigeria. In addition, data was collected on demographic factors and prevalent artificial intelligent technologies adopted by the librarians. Findings reveal that Google Assistant is the prevalent artificial intelligence technology adopted by the librarians in Nigeria. Also, the librarians agreed more on the motivating factors than inhibiting factors for level of librarians' technological readiness in Nigeria. However, findings from the study indicate that there is no significant relationship between technological readiness and adoption of artificial intelligence among librarians in Nigeria. Hence, the study suggests that other factors could contribute to the adoption of artificial intelligence among librarians in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the online social networking tools used as techniques for effective marketing of services in selected academic libraries in Imo State. The study was guided by three research questions and objectives. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was fifty nine (59); comprising Heads of departments/units and librarians working in the libraries studied. The population also served as the sample due to its manageable nature, hence the adoption of census enumeration technique. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics involving mean scores. The findings revealed that: the mostly used social networking tools to market library products and services in the academic libraries studied are Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter; that some of the benefits of social networking tools in academic libraries are: promotion of library resources; knowledge creation and sharing among libraries/librarians; helping to publicize special events and programmes of the library; enhancing research and scholarly publications among librarians and others; and that the academic libraries are being affected by a lot of challenges in their quest to use social networking tools to market their products and services to the public which include, inadequate funding, lack of qualified ICT librarians, network problems, erratic power supply, among others. It was therefore recommended that academic libraries should endeavour to embrace other forms of social networking tools in addition to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter to market their products and services to users and install solar energy in order to tackle the issue of erratic power supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This mixed-method study analyzes the self-archiving behaviors and underlying motivations of researchers at an institution very recently recategorized by the Carnegie Classification system from "Doctoral-High Research Activity (R2)" to "Doctoral-Very High Research Activity (R1).". Methods: A quantitative analysis of data provided by CHORUS, a multi-institutional open access (OA) infrastructure project designed to minimize the administrative costs of complying with federal public access mandates, was followed by semi-structured qualitative interviews with researchers to determine the underlying motivations for self-archiving research papers resulting from federal grant support. Results: Fifty-one authors with federal research funding published 71 journal articles; 139 OA versions of these 71 articles were intentionally made available by researchers across nine types of platforms, including and in addition to those provided by publishers. Interviews with 11 investigators revealed motivators such as a dedication to public access to knowledge, learned behaviors in specific disciplines, and enlightened self-interest. Challenges included concern regarding confidentiality, confusion about intellectual property and funder requirements, administrative overhead, and integrity of the scholarly record. Discussion: Despite concerns and a lack of an OA mandate and other drivers more commonly present at larger, more research-intensive universities, several researchers interviewed actively engaged in self-archiving article versions, not always with clear motivations. These findings have implications for both scholarly communications and collection development services.Conclusion: These quantitative and qualitative data informed the creation of three distinct personas intended to help librarians at similar universities design services in a manner that aligns with investigator motivations. Conclusion: These quantitative and qualitative data informed the creation of three distinct personas intended to help librarians at similar universities design services in a manner that aligns with investigator motivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since internationally visible scientific productivity is a criterion for state evaluation of Croatian academic and scientific institutions and their scientists, Croatian academic libraries have a key role in quantitative evaluation of scientific productivity using methods such as bibliometrics, scientometrics and the like. The aim of this case study is to identify and illustrate the current situation of library services for evaluating scientific production at the University of Zagreb, Croatia, and to make recommendations for the further development of such services, which could serve as a framework for the systematic implementation of this type of service in all libraries at the University of Zagreb and beyond. More specifically, the purpose of this paper was to identify the existence of the bibliometric services in the libraries of the University of Zagreb (UNIZG), examine the status and involvement of university librarians in the academic advancement procedures and to identify the required competences for bibliometric experts in Croatia. The research was conducted using the content analysis method, the survey method, and the focus group method. The research results show that although UNIZG libraries are integrated into the system of academic promotion and the role of UNIZG libraries is enshrined in Croatian regulations, the bibliometric service is not standardised at the University level. The results also indicate that the service needs to be strengthened in terms of training of professional staff and greater investment in staff capacity and infrastructure. The fact that the study was conducted at a single Croatian university is a possible limitation that could relate to the application of guidelines for further actions and the development of bibliometric services at national level. It would therefore be desirable to conduct future research to identify the situation at other Croatian universities as well. It would also be necessary to determine the open science and open access policies at UNIZG through further research and, in this context, to establish guidelines for possible improvements in the processes of evaluating scientific productivity. The results of this study make an important contribution to the possible future positioning of university libraries and UNIZG librarians in the process of evaluating scientific productivity. In addition, some practical advice is given so that this case study may be a good introductory overview for the wider academic community in relation to this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decades, academic librarianship has been preoccupied with changes that include academic librarians as research partners due to the changing landscape in scholarly communication services, evolving technologies, and institutional missions. Thus, the idea of academic librarians being a partner in research rather than mere research supporters is a new development in academic librarianship that requires attention, especially on what academic librarians can do to partner with the research community successfully. Therefore, this study employed a qualitative approach to explore academic librarians’ roles as research partners and the competencies required for better collaborations. Data were generated through face-to-face interviews with 14 academic librarians purposively sampled from a major research university in Nigeria. Ten themes emerged from the findings regarding academic librarians' role as research partners. These include information discovery and provision, information use and evaluation; grants application; articulation of research topic; literature and reference management; research data management, systematic review, authoring a manuscript, scholarly publishing, and research dissemination. Similarly, eleven themes emerged as the competencies required to be analysed under the dimensions of knowledge, skill, and attitude. These include research methodology and research data management as the knowledge needed in a research partnership. While digital scholarship, systematic review, reference / citation management, data curation and preservation, bibliometrics/information evaluation and communication emerged as the skills required for the effective discharge of their responsibilities. Professionalism, patience, and cordiality were found to be the attitude required. This paper is limited to providing academic librarians with the necessary authority to enhance their performance in a research partnership, and offering them the approach to guide their practice in a research partnership. Thus, the study recommended, among others, the need for enlightenment programmes and activities for academic librarians that cut across training, workshops, and organising conferences in research areas in enhancing their service performance to ensure successful research partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2020, institutions of higher education shut down in compliance with the directives of the President of Ghana to curb the spread of COVID-19. In July 2020, when the lockdown restrictions were eased, universities resumed teaching, learning, and research in order to continue the second semester of the 2020/2021 academic year. Universities and their libraries immediately adapted to online teaching and the delivery of services and resources to their patrons even though most of them were largely unprepared for this 'new normal' experience. This paper adopts the qualitative research design which comprised documentary evidence of experiences of ten public and private universities libraries in Ghana with regard to their resources, services, facilities and staff as well as impact on library users during the pandemic. Findings reveal the strict compliance of the COVID-19 protocols and sanitation practices, the increased use of online databases, social media interventions and virtual training among others. The different strategies adopted by university libraries in Ghana are worth sharing and lessons learned provide a unique opportunity for academic librarians to rethink their key roles and core values in supporting the teaching and learning of their institutions during this very challenging time and the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the design and initial implementation of online training modules for Universal Design for Learning in the context of academic libraries. Academic libraries are shifting away from the provision of resources and toward actively providing instruction and engaging with learners. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a quick transition from many in-person resources to virtual resources. Ensuring librarians are equipped to support learners in this manner is crucial. The goal of this paper was to determine how best to assist academic librarians with developing effective online resources. To achieve this goal, we conducted interviews with academic librarians. After consulting the literature and collecting information from academic librarians, we identified four key concepts for providing valuable instruction and designing material. The four themes included making content accessible, usable, meaningful, and reliable. We then developed four online training modules using Articulate Rise. The modules provide a foundation for aiding academic librarians with their teaching practice and engaging with a broad range of learners. These modules quickly demonstrated their value in the library context, and future testing, assessing, and iterating will enable their continuous improvement via institutional and cross-institutional collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-generation college students (FGCS) in engineering bring a wealth of knowledge to their academic and social experiences in higher education, in contrast to deficit-based narratives that students are underprepared. By listening to FGCS' own experiences navigating higher education and using information literacy in their project-based work, librarians and educators can better understand students' funds of knowledge, social capital, and identities, as well as the institutional barriers that must be removed. This paper shares interview findings with (n = 11) FGCS and suggests implications for professional practice that are relevant to information literacy for design, project-based, or practitioner focused disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On April 19-20, 2021, an international scientific conference was held in Wrocław to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of an academic centre for the education of librarians at the University of Wrocław at the higher level, whose estimable traditions are continued today by the Institute of Library and Information Science. The report on this event contains the characteristics of the event. Individual conference speeches were discussed, juxtaposing them in thematic blocks in terms of contents: readership; editing; sources of information about a book; libraries; bibliology; publishing traffic. Attention was paid to the basic hypotheses and research theses contained in the papers. In the discussion of foreign papers, the polonica present in them were emphasized. The efficiency of the organizer was highlighted, who, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, was forced to conduct the conference remotely. He took full advantage of all the possibilities offered by this formula, especially of the chat, thanks to which it was possible to comment on the presented papers, ask questions to the speakers and exchange views between the participants. It is also worth noting that the conference was accompanied by an international exhibition of ex libris under the slogan: "Institute of Library and Information Science of the University of Wrocław." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five academic librarians from libraries that represent the Canadian Academic Research Libraries (CARL) were invited to share their experiences as racialized librarians. In 2021, CARL hosted an Inclusion Perspectives Webinar Series, organized by CARL's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group (EDIWG), and the contents of this paper are presentations by these librarians who were invited to speak on systems, structures, and policies needed to dismantle racism; practical strategies to attract and retain racialized library employees; accreditation issues; and advice for what Canadian library leaders can start doing immediately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates how taking differences in end user behavior and differing interdepartmental perspectives on metadata into account can strengthen the digital object workflow to serve a greater variety of users. The University of Illinois Chicago University Library has successfully collaborated on metadata initiatives since establishing a cross-departmental Metadata Working Group. The article examines the perspectives of archivists, digital librarians, and catalogers on digital object metadata. It outlines the workflow established to enable each of these stakeholders to contribute their unique strengths to metadata and considers how bringing those strengths together serves different end user groups. It presents two examples of this workflow in action and considers the next steps for improving that workflow. Future efforts to strengthen the content/context balance of metadata are discussed in three areas: aggregated digitization and description, technology enhancements, and moving from a linear to a circular workflow model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians across Africa have had to portray proactive measures in combating the spread of Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic. They were faced with the probability of how libraries would function amidst employees calling for closures while seeking for safety and looking for how to activate open access e-resources, minding workers' rights and copyright guidelines on these eresources. Their perception on providing health information sensitization to their immediate community, the challenges and facing the change agenda was the focus of this paper. Respondents were drawn from different libraries for the survey which adopted qualitative research methodology through interviews. The data collected were thematically analyzed to answer the research questions. Findings indicated that librarians perceived the COVID-19 sensitization as a challenge that could be overwhelming, but achievable with support from stakeholders, the government and non-governmental agencies. Recommendations were that the new normal has brought changes to information processing and dissemination. Librarians and libraries should thrive in this new reality and remain more responsive. Furthermore, enhanced impact assessment should be carried out to find out how the measures of sensitization on the pandemic became effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]